WELCOME | MISSION STATEMENT | BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO | LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

MISSION STATEMENT

Increase the representation for small business at the State House
Small businesses in South Carolina produce eighty percent of the jobs and pay the lion's share of taxes. Yet, until The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce was formed in February, 2000, there had been no exclusive South Carolina organization dedicated solely to representing the interests of all small business. The result was that the voice of big business dominated the governmental process. The S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce represents the general interests of small business at the State House to increase the awareness and influence of small business in the governmental process.

Create a friendlier economic environment for small business in South Carolina
While corporate giants reap billions of dollars in tax abatements, the small business community has not asked for or received any major economic incentives from the state. A new business environment needs to be established in which small business receives state incentive dollar value equal to big business. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce will pursue this goal.

Reform state tax codes to provide both tax relief and tax equity for small business in South Carolina
While income taxes have come down over the past 20 years, payroll taxes have gone up putting a great strain on small business. Additionally, while most big businesses pay a corporate tax in South Carolina as low as 4%-5%, most small businesses, which are usually partnerships, sole proprietorships, LLCs or S-corporations, pay 7%. The S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce will pursue tax relief and tax equity for small businesses.

Insure that small business is treated the same as big business when dealing with state regulatory agencies
State regulatory agencies are more to make decisions that are friendlier to big business than small business primarily because the latter do not have high powered law firms to represent them. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce will act as a watchdog over our state regulatory agencies to stand up for the small business community.  In addition, we will push for the establishment of a small business ombudsman in state government whose job would be to give procedural advice to small business owners involved in the regulatory process and insure that all businesses are treated the same by regulatory agencies.

Empower small businesses with information, knowledge and a course of action to effectively influence state government actions
All too often, small business owners do not receive information about what is going on in state government or the information they receive comes from the perspective of big business or is filtered by the media. Without timely, accurate and meaningful information about state government activity, small businesses cannot effectively have input into the decision making process. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce will establish a communication mechanism with its members to empower them with the information and knowledge they need to influence their legislators and the legislative process.

Educate and inform the public
The vital role small business plays in our state's economy is under-appreciated by the general public because the media and state government has emphasized big business development. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce will make efforts to educate the public about the importance of small business to our state's economy.

Promote the economic success of small businesses
The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce will constantly work to make the changes needed in state and local government that will positively effect every small businesses' ability to be profitable.